Grab your conductor hats, mums and dads, Thomas the Tank Engine is turning 80, and he’s celebrating in true Aussie style! To mark eight decades of friendship, imagination, and endless train adventures, Mattel’s Thomas & Friends has teamed up with Journey Beyond to give one lucky family the ride of a lifetime: a cross-country Thomas & Friends-themed trip on the legendary Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth.
That’s right. This October, it’s full steam ahead for Australia’s biggest Thomas fans as the search is on to find one special family to win a once-in-a-lifetime train adventure, complete with themed cabins, breathtaking views, and plenty of nostalgic fun along the way.
A Train Journey Beyond Imagination
The Indian Pacific is one of the world’s most iconic train journeys, crossing three states and 4,352 kilometres of pure wonder. But this time, it’s not just a train; it’s Thomas brought to life.
“We wanted to create something that captures the joy and adventure Thomas has brought to families for generations. This experience brings Thomas’s enduring spirit to life in a real-world adventure — connection, discovery and fun, just like the stories we’ve all grown up with.”
Picture your little ones waking up to themed cabins, watching endless Aussie landscapes roll by, and hearing that familiar “Peep! Peep!” echo through the carriage.
“Combining the Indian Pacific with a brand as loved as Thomas & Friends adds a whole new layer of magic. We’re thrilled to make this unforgettable experience happen for one special family.”
80 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine Magic
Can you believe it’s been 80 years since Thomas first chugged onto the scene? It all started back in 1945 when Reverend W. Awdry wrote The Railway Series to entertain his son. Since then, Thomas has puffed his way through books, TV, movies, toys, and even live shows — bringing endless smiles to families in 200 countries and 52 languages.
If you grew up singing “They’re two, they’re four, they’re six, they’re eight…”, you’re not alone. Thomas wasn’t just a toy or a TV show — he was childhood itself. Saturday mornings meant watching Thomas teach life lessons about teamwork, kindness, and staying on track (literally). Now, your own kids can experience that same magic — and maybe even share a trip of a lifetime inspired by everyone’s favourite little blue engine.
Nostalgia Alert: Lost Pilot Episode Returns!
As part of the 80th birthday celebrations, Mattel has also given fans a rare treat into the never-before-seen 1983 pilot episode featuring Ringo Starr’s original voiceover. The film trims were carefully pieced together and digitised from 40-year-old 35mm reels, showing the first test shoot ever made for Thomas & Friends. It’s now streaming on YouTube, giving die-hard fans the ultimate dose of nostalgia.
So yes, it’s officially time to gather the kids, grab some popcorn, and introduce them to your Thomas.
Collectors, This One’s For You
To mark the milestone, Mattel has released a limited-edition 80th Anniversary Diecast Thomas Engine — a must-have for every fan, young or old. You can find it on Mattel.com.au or at your favourite retailers, including Big W, Target, Myer, Amazon, and more.
It’s the perfect keepsake to mark 80 years of steam-powered smiles and bedtime stories.
How to Enter: Are YOU Australia’s Biggest Thomas Fan?
If your family’s love for Thomas runs deep, maybe your little one can name all the engines, or your backyard once had its own “Sodor Island”, this is your moment!
To enter, simply upload a short video at www.celebratewiththomas.com explaining why Thomas holds a special place in your family’s heart.
Entries are open from October 2 to October 23, 2025, and the winning family of four will soon be rolling through Australia’s heartland in true Thomas style, from the Blue Mountains to the golden plains, all the way to Perth’s sparkling coast.
From Toy Tracks to Real Tracks
For generations, Thomas has taught us about teamwork, friendship, and finding joy in the journey. This time, that journey is real — spanning the heart of Australia on one of the world’s most breathtaking rail adventures.
So dust off your train caps, cue that iconic whistle, and get ready to celebrate 80 incredible years of Thomas & Friends — the little blue engine that’s still going strong, still bringing families together, and still reminding us all that adventure is just around the bend.
Peep peep! All aboard for fun, family, and a little bit of nostalgia. 🚂 ❤️
2 Comments
I am a person who is celeberating his eightieth year (as is Thomas the Tank Engine). My wife and I married in 1966. That is almost 60 years ago, and we have been saving for almost all that time to take the Indian Pacific Journey. As a boy my favourite Engines (apart from Thomas), was James the red engine and Percy the green engine with the happy face. Unfortunately I don’t know how to send you a video. We want to so much, take the Indian Pacific journey, but we (full pensioners) are getting too old to save enough money for the trip now. If we are fortunate enough to win this journey we will have saved enough to have spending money etc.Thank you Mum Central, Thomas, and Journey beyond for this terrific opportunity to enter this competion. We look forward to telling our grand-children and great-grand-children of the highlights of the journey so that they can plan an Indian Pacific journey at sometime in the future for themselves. Kind regards, Maury.
Hello you promoted the Thomas competition however now it’s closed and there is no access to the website or where they announced winners. Do you have any info or a contact I could follow up?
Kind regards